Six major disasters shake India in deadly first half of 2025 | Read in detail
PTC Web Desk: The year 2025 is emerging as one of the most harrowing in recent memory for India. As only six months have passed, the country has already witnessed a series of devastating tragedies that have cost hundreds of lives and left thousands in shock. From natural calamities to mass casualties in public places, and even terrorist attacks, the nation has seen disaster after disaster—raising serious concerns about what the remainder of the year may hold.
Here’s a look at six of the most chilling incidents that have shaken India from January to June:
Stampede at Mahakumbh Mela, Prayagraj
During the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, held from January 13 to February 26, tragedy struck on January 29, the day of Mauni Amavasya. A massive crowd surged at the Sangam ghat, resulting in a deadly stampede. At least 37 devotees lost their lives while 60 others sustained injuries, as pilgrims awaited the auspicious Brahma Bela for a holy dip. Over 660 million people had gathered at the event, creating extreme pressure on crowd control systems.
Delhi Railway Station stampede & Prayagraj SUV collision
Just two weeks later, on February 15, panic gripped the Delhi Railway Station as a crowd surge led to a stampede that killed 18 pilgrims on their way to the Kumbh Mela, including 14 women and three children. On the same day, a separate tragedy unfolded in Prayagraj, where a speeding SUV carrying 10 Kumbh-bound pilgrims collided with a bus. All 10 passengers in the SUV died on the spot.
Fire tragedy in Gujarat
On April 1, a powerful boiler explosion at a firecracker factory in Disha, Banaskantha district, Gujarat, triggered a deadly blaze that killed 17 workers. Most victims were trapped inside with no time to escape, highlighting severe lapses in industrial safety norms.
Terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir
In a horrifying incident on April 22, Pakistani terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in the Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam after questioning their religious identities. Twenty-six tourists were targeted, primarily Hindus, along with a Christian man from Indore and a local Muslim guide who tried to intervene and was killed. The attack prompted India to launch Operation Sindoor, which destroyed nine terrorist hideouts across the border.
IPL stampede in Bengaluru
On June 4, just before the RCB victory celebration at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, chaos erupted outside the venue, resulting in a stampede. Eleven people died and 47 were injured in the crush caused by overcrowding and poor crowd management.
Catastrophic Air India crash in Ahmedabad
The most devastating of all occurred on June 12, when an Air India flight crashed in Ahmedabad at around 1.38 pm. Out of 242 passengers, 241 perished, and the total death toll rose to 275, including residents near the crash site. This incident is being termed one of the worst aviation disasters in Indian history.
- With inputs from agencies
